Pune District Collector Suhas Diwase has directed officials to complete the final phase of land acquisition for the Pune Ring Road by the end of December, enabling construction to begin in January 2025. The process involves acquiring 207 hectares across eastern and western phases of the project, with land acquisition spanning three villages in each phase. For the eastern phase, 143 hectares need to be acquired, while 64 hectares are required for the western phase. Land acquisition officer reports confirm that compensation for the land has already been announced, facilitating timely completion. The affected villages are located in four talukas for the eastern phase—Maval, Khed, Purandar, and Haveli—and in Mulshi, Haveli, and Bhor talukas for the western phase. The 136-km outer ring road, divided into two phases, aims to decongest Pune and improve highway connectivity. The eastern phase will cover a 74.08-km stretch from Urse on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway to Shivare on the Pune-Satara Highway, while the western phase will span 64.45 km, connecting Shivare to Urse. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has finalised five contractors for the project following the relaxation of the model code of conduct post-assembly elections. Construction work is scheduled to begin in January 2025, with the targeted completion date set for May 2027. The ring road will connect 83 villages and provide heavy vehicles direct access to highways, bypassing Pune's central areas. This is expected to significantly reduce city traffic congestion and improve inter-district highway connectivity. (TOI)